Is there a way I can just stay home from school today? I don't want to face the Wrath of Buffy ft. Andi. I might die, either from Buffy or from them ignoring me the whole time.

Last night, I was tossing and turning the whole time, and only got two hours of sleep. My heart was quite literally aching and my pillow was completely soaked from tears. My eyes are bloodshot and I look like a mess. I could probably fake sickness from just my appearance.

That's seems like a better plan.

Teej🙃: thank you for hanging out yesterday, i had a lot of fun

Teej🙃: do you want to come to the basketball court today, by the swings?

Might as well just say I'm sick. But I don't want to hide from TJ because Buffy is mad at me. But I don't want Buffy to have my head on a platter.

"Cyrus, it's time to go!" There was a loud knock at my door. Frick, it's too late to back out now. I opened my door, and my mom's smile dropped from her. "Are you ok, your eyes are red?" She brushed her thumb over my eyebrow and held the side of my face.

"Y-yep, I just got no sleep after I got home." She removed her hand and crossed her arms with a skeptical look on her face.

"Ok, but if you don't feel well, go to the nurse and I'll come pick you up." She stated as I grabbed my helmet.

"Ok, mom." I opened my door and waved goodbye. Here goes nothing.

-

"Cyrus Goodman!" Oh frick. I don't even lift my head up, I just stare at the ground, waiting for what happens next. "Follow me." I looked at the way her shoes were going and we ended up in the courtyard, which was a little less empty.

"B-Buffy."

"Cyrus, I feel extremely betrayed. What the hell were you thinking?!" She shouted. She's being really loud. "Look at me Cyrus." And I did, but extremely slow and hesitantly.

"Buffy, he needed a tutor."

"And if he didn't have a tutor, he would be kicked off the boys basketball team! That's a good thing Cyrus!"

"W-why is that a good thing?" I thought she would've at least support the school team, the school team at the school we go to.

"Because TJ isn't winning, TJ doesn't deserve to win." She held her forehead and looked at the ground, her lips pursed. "Cyrus, you can't be friends with us if you're friends with him." This doesn't make any sense, not at all. Maybe I should hang out with TJ today because Buffy doesn't understand. I thought I was the one messing it up but it was actually just my head telling me not to do anything. "What are you going to do?"

"Please don't make me choose." She looks angry now. And just seeing that, it makes me angry. I never get angry. My chest gets tight and before I know it, I pour out everything I've been holding in for years. "All I've ever done, Buffy, is stand behind you. I never talked to anyone else unless you approved of them. I was afraid of YOU and what YOU would think. I let you hold me back all these years and when I wasn't held back, I met someone who needed help, and I helped them. I discovered more than what I thought I was going to discover. Buffy, all I've ever been to you is loyal and supportive. Why do I not get the same treatment back? Why do I never get supported, but instead, I get teared down for actually finding the truth of the situation? Maybe I shouldn't be friends with you if you're going to be a selfish and petty BITCH." I let out a huge breath and look at my feet. Why did I just say that?

The bell went off so I ran inside, not even looking at Buffy and whatever face she was making. It felt good speaking my mind, but it was also extremely mortifying and embarrassing. And also extremely depressing.

Sixth period is going to be fun

-

TJ had his head up when I walk into math today. I even caught glimpse of a tiny smile. I sit next to him, and pull out my notebook.

"Hey Underdog." He whispers. He had an even bigger smile on his face.

"Are you ok?" He nods but bites his lip to contain a chuckle. Is he actually ok? Maybe he's going insane.

"I told Mrs. Stevens about... you know what." I nodded my head for him to continue. "She let me retake the test, and I got a C."

"Really!" I whisper back, excitement noticeable within it. He nods his head. His smile is bright, and genuine. "That's amazing Teej."

"I know, I'm pretty amazing." I take my notebook and slap his arm. "Rude." Mrs. Stevens walks up to the board and class starts. TJ and I go silent, like the rest of the class, but TJ's smile stayed on his face the whole time.

i'll also be coming to the court today

I slid the post it note over to him.

i'll see you there:)

-
I was right, sixth period was so much fun...

Buffy and Andi weren't talking to me all period, unless giving me glares the whole time was speaking. Jonah looked confused but didn't talk to me cause I'm pretty sure one of them told him not to. They don't understand, I mean Jonah doesn't understand anything, but Andi and Buffy. They can't understand because they're extremely protective. I'm not mad at them, I know they're mad at me. I can't change that unless I can erase their memory. But part of me knows it's my fault. I did ditch them twice, and I ditched them for a guy they hate. But making me choose, that's not the way to handle the situation.

I know this is my fault, but I'm not going to stop hanging out with someone because they don't approve. I don't have a reputation to lose, and even if I did, I would risk it.

It's weird though. I can't help but feel free hanging out with TJ. I haven't known him very long, but everything I've done with him so far made me feel better, even when I wasn't feeling sad or upset.

Don't get me wrong, I'm happy Andi and Buffy are protective sometimes. But I like to not have bodyguards all the time.

Am I making any sense? I might need to use the swings today.

-
"Underdog, explain to me why you are frowning?" I look up at the green eyed boy. He was holding a basketball, and had light blue hoodie on.

"It's nothing." I looked at the basketball in his hands. "Please tell me we are not playing basketball."

"I'm sorry but you taught me something, so I'm going to teach you something." He placed his water bottle on the bench I was sitting on.

"I have a whole list of things I can't do, and basketball isn't on that list cause I don't want to do it." I cross my arms and pout, while TJ chuckles and bounces the ball.

"Send me that list later." I sigh and look at him.

"Only ten minutes." I point at him.

"I'm cool with that, now come here." I walked as slow as possible over to him. He handed me the basketball and smiled at me. "See, we're making progress already."

"Keep talking like that and I'm going to throw this basketball at your head."

"You sure you can throw that high?" I groaned and threw it at his arm. He didn't even flinch. He picked the ball up and handed it to me. "Stand there." He pointed to a spot that was kinda close to the net. "First, separate you legs and bend your knees." He walked over to me and took the ball. "Put your hand slightly under the ball." I took my hand and placed it right next to his. He handed over the ball with my hands in the same position. "Um- all you have to do is follow through, shoot with your dominant hand."

To keep a long story short, I made one basket and TJ helped me get that one. All my shots were short, maybe because I'm short. I'm also sweating like a maniac.

We are sitting on the bench, shoulder to shoulder. He was drenched in cold water, and I was too afraid to drench myself in cold water.

"So, Underdog. Now will you tell me why you were frowning?" I didn't even notice that his voice can get that soft.

"I- uh... I got in a huge fight with Buffy." I sigh and fidget with my hands. "And it was about you and I hanging out. B-But don't worry, it's not your fault."

"I must mean a lot to you if you got in a fight with Buffy about me, and you're still hanging out with me." He teases and bumps me with his shoulder.

"You do mean a lot to me, TJ." He looks at me, a smile smile on his lips. I look right back at him.

"Do you want to go to the swings?" I replace my small smile with an even bigger one and nod excitedly. "Oh my god, you're like a child."

"I know, immature is my middle name." He shakes his head.

I sit down on the same swing as the other times, and he sits in the swing next to mine. The same one he sits on every time.

"Cyrus." I look at him. His eyes were sparkling within the sunshine, and his smile was just breathtaking. Can I say that about my best friend?

"Yeah?"

"You mean so much to me."